Technical College- Musayyab, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University discussed a master dissertation on experimental and numerical study of latent thermal energy storage via using phase change materials (PCMs) by the postgraduate student, Mr. Amjad Ali.

The dissertation aimed at developing latent thermal energy storage units with innovative designs based on different geometric shapes, such as longitudinal and annular fins (solid and perforated) and analyzing the effect of key operational factors related to the heat transfer fluid temperature and flow rate on energy storage efficiency.

The dissertation confirmed that improving melting efficiency by using perforated annular fins, with increasing their number, reduces melting time by 40.6%, enhancing energy storage efficiency, improving the thermal conductivity of phase change materials (such as lauric acid and paraffin wax) contributed to reducing thermal resistance and accelerating the charging process.

The dissertation demonstrated that increasing the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid did not significantly improve performance, with the improvement rate reaching only 8.5%.

The dissertation recommended the use of nanoparticles to enhance the properties of PCMs and increase their efficiency, adopting exergonic efficiency analysis to improve fin design and enhance the overall performance of thermal systems, as well as developing thermal energy storage systems used in mechanical engineering and renewable energy applications, which helps improve energy efficiency and reduce heat loss.